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Population in Cameroon compared to Mali: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 1.18 times bigger than Mali's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.8% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Cameroon vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Mali
2100 89,761,493 80,362,778
2099 89,236,081 80,043,103
2098 88,700,571 79,704,143
2097 88,148,423 79,354,569
2096 87,584,533 78,987,874
2095 87,012,755 78,602,449
2094 86,422,461 78,192,601
2093 85,823,264 77,771,649
2092 85,216,516 77,337,997
2091 84,591,510 76,884,320
2090 83,955,258 76,409,599
2089 83,304,250 75,916,129
2088 82,644,527 75,405,009
2087 81,971,087 74,874,565
2086 81,292,292 74,331,613
2085 80,596,814 73,769,979
2084 79,893,144 73,189,821
2083 79,174,449 72,588,675
2082 78,447,054 71,975,720
2081 77,705,764 71,340,622
2080 76,946,674 70,699,377
2079 76,185,626 70,036,857
2078 75,414,998 69,359,523
2077 74,632,426 68,668,133
2076 73,846,385 67,965,034
2075 73,045,925 67,249,105
2074 72,232,083 66,516,075
2073 71,416,307 65,768,739
2072 70,587,575 65,009,716
2071 69,756,436 64,232,600
2070 68,920,850 63,450,597
2069 68,080,121 62,657,123
2068 67,236,365 61,850,168
2067 66,384,714 61,035,806
2066 65,524,711 60,215,831
2065 64,661,065 59,394,005
2064 63,793,364 58,560,766
2063 62,925,133 57,720,905
2062 62,051,886 56,873,801
2061 61,174,588 56,020,633
2060 60,289,485 55,160,220
2059 59,400,116 54,298,509
2058 58,506,347 53,431,783
2057 57,609,734 52,559,686
2056 56,718,154 51,686,173
2055 55,825,018 50,807,502
2054 54,922,920 49,930,546
2053 54,020,742 49,048,457
2052 53,110,977 48,161,836
2051 52,204,288 47,275,159
2050 51,302,617 46,385,854
2049 50,395,223 45,500,920
2048 49,490,600 44,612,126
2047 48,582,238 43,725,546
2046 47,678,096 42,836,054
2045 46,779,348 41,946,522
2044 45,880,138 41,057,406
2043 44,989,272 40,168,481
2042 44,093,888 39,281,666
2041 43,194,408 38,402,142
2040 42,307,249 37,521,801
2039 41,421,572 36,648,491
2038 40,545,218 35,768,661
2037 39,674,106 34,898,973
2036 38,807,341 34,032,460
2035 37,954,978 33,174,985
2034 37,107,744 32,324,451
2033 36,270,943 31,482,783
2032 35,438,930 30,652,485
2031 34,618,857 29,830,213
2030 33,804,320 29,025,640
2029 33,002,520 28,232,427
2028 32,206,806 27,453,124
2027 31,421,882 26,687,226
2026 30,647,877 25,937,442
2025 29,879,337 25,198,821
2024 29,123,744 24,478,595
2023 28,372,687 23,769,127
2022 27,632,771 23,072,640
2021 26,915,758 22,388,630
2020 26,210,558 21,713,836
2019 25,506,095 21,068,405
2018 24,806,383 20,442,030
2017 24,128,601 19,813,011
2016 23,454,161 19,191,289
2015 22,763,414 18,593,022
2014 22,059,893 18,020,267
2013 21,402,376 17,459,615
2012 20,809,529 16,957,033
2011 20,232,304 16,469,049
2010 19,668,066 15,945,198
2009 19,113,974 15,435,539
2008 18,574,056 14,940,782
2007 18,049,896 14,457,775
2006 17,550,407 13,990,139
2005 17,074,594 13,538,647
2004 16,610,487 13,102,409
2003 16,160,340 12,684,955
2002 15,725,528 12,288,050
2001 15,309,490 11,912,158
2000 14,912,631 11,559,290
1999 14,525,140 11,227,415
1998 14,144,860 10,919,573
1997 13,775,214 10,646,495
1996 13,414,757 10,407,278
1995 13,058,516 10,185,365
1994 12,704,903 9,967,031
1993 12,353,131 9,754,786
1992 12,006,353 9,553,540
1991 11,667,180 9,362,888
1990 11,331,821 9,178,830
1989 11,002,745 8,999,938
1988 10,684,968 8,833,996
1987 10,370,749 8,681,164
1986 10,060,342 8,531,277
1985 9,761,730 8,374,663
1984 9,475,078 8,208,599
1983 9,215,397 8,034,400
1982 9,028,678 7,860,194
1981 8,816,377 7,692,766
1980 8,512,219 7,530,515
1979 8,239,641 7,375,266
1978 8,011,921 7,229,651
1977 7,796,501 7,090,979
1976 7,597,962 6,960,979
1975 7,397,120 6,837,261
1974 7,193,583 6,715,436
1973 6,996,660 6,597,106
1972 6,806,872 6,483,726
1971 6,624,408 6,377,944
1970 6,449,793 6,276,472
1969 6,283,462 6,177,704
1968 6,125,863 6,082,979
1967 5,977,318 5,990,906
1966 5,837,295 5,902,204
1965 5,704,686 5,815,487
1964 5,578,257 5,730,125
1963 5,456,623 5,646,605
1962 5,338,620 5,563,917
1961 5,239,273 5,482,283
1960 5,159,057 5,402,550

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 65.3% to 51,302,617 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Mali
2100 0.59% 0.4%
2099 0.6% 0.43%
2098 0.63% 0.44%
2097 0.64% 0.46%
2096 0.66% 0.49%
2095 0.68% 0.52%
2094 0.7% 0.54%
2093 0.71% 0.56%
2092 0.74% 0.59%
2091 0.76% 0.62%
2090 0.78% 0.65%
2089 0.8% 0.68%
2088 0.82% 0.71%
2087 0.84% 0.73%
2086 0.86% 0.76%
2085 0.88% 0.79%
2084 0.91% 0.83%
2083 0.93% 0.85%
2082 0.95% 0.89%
2081 0.99% 0.91%
2080 1% 0.95%
2079 1.02% 0.98%
2078 1.05% 1.01%
2077 1.06% 1.03%
2076 1.1% 1.06%
2075 1.13% 1.1%
2074 1.14% 1.14%
2073 1.17% 1.17%
2072 1.19% 1.21%
2071 1.21% 1.23%
2070 1.23% 1.27%
2069 1.25% 1.3%
2068 1.28% 1.33%
2067 1.31% 1.36%
2066 1.34% 1.38%
2065 1.36% 1.42%
2064 1.38% 1.46%
2063 1.41% 1.49%
2062 1.43% 1.52%
2061 1.47% 1.56%
2060 1.5% 1.59%
2059 1.53% 1.62%
2058 1.56% 1.66%
2057 1.57% 1.69%
2056 1.6% 1.73%
2055 1.64% 1.76%
2054 1.67% 1.8%
2053 1.71% 1.84%
2052 1.74% 1.88%
2051 1.76% 1.92%
2050 1.8% 1.94%
2049 1.83% 1.99%
2048 1.87% 2.03%
2047 1.9% 2.08%
2046 1.92% 2.12%
2045 1.96% 2.17%
2044 1.98% 2.21%
2043 2.03% 2.26%
2042 2.08% 2.29%
2041 2.1% 2.35%
2040 2.14% 2.38%
2039 2.16% 2.46%
2038 2.2% 2.49%
2037 2.23% 2.55%
2036 2.25% 2.58%
2035 2.28% 2.63%
2034 2.31% 2.67%
2033 2.35% 2.71%
2032 2.37% 2.76%
2031 2.41% 2.77%
2030 2.43% 2.81%
2029 2.47% 2.84%
2028 2.5% 2.87%
2027 2.53% 2.89%
2026 2.57% 2.93%
2025 2.59% 2.94%
2024 2.65% 2.98%
2023 2.68% 3.02%
2022 2.66% 3.06%
2021 2.69% 3.11%
2020 2.76% 3.06%
2019 2.82% 3.06%
2018 2.81% 3.17%
2017 2.88% 3.24%
2016 3.03% 3.22%
2015 3.19% 3.18%
2014 3.07% 3.21%
2013 2.85% 2.96%
2012 2.85% 2.96%
2011 2.87% 3.29%
2010 2.9% 3.3%
2009 2.91% 3.31%
2008 2.9% 3.34%
2007 2.85% 3.34%
2006 2.79% 3.33%
2005 2.79% 3.33%
2004 2.79% 3.29%
2003 2.77% 3.23%
2002 2.72% 3.16%
2001 2.66% 3.05%
2000 2.67% 2.96%
1999 2.69% 2.82%
1998 2.68% 2.56%
1997 2.69% 2.3%
1996 2.73% 2.18%
1995 2.78% 2.19%
1994 2.85% 2.18%
1993 2.89% 2.11%
1992 2.91% 2.04%
1991 2.96% 2.01%
1990 2.99% 1.99%
1989 2.97% 1.88%
1988 3.03% 1.76%
1987 3.09% 1.76%
1986 3.06% 1.87%
1985 3.03% 2.02%
1984 2.82% 2.17%
1983 2.07% 2.22%
1982 2.41% 2.18%
1981 3.57% 2.15%
1980 3.31% 2.1%
1979 2.84% 2.01%
1978 2.76% 1.96%
1977 2.61% 1.87%
1976 2.72% 1.81%
1975 2.83% 1.81%
1974 2.81% 1.79%
1973 2.79% 1.75%
1972 2.75% 1.66%
1971 2.71% 1.62%
1970 2.65% 1.6%
1969 2.57% 1.56%
1968 2.49% 1.54%
1967 2.4% 1.5%
1966 2.32% 1.49%
1965 2.27% 1.49%
1964 2.23% 1.48%
1963 2.21% 1.49%
1962 1.9% 1.49%
1961 1.55% 1.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Mali
Current population
31045453
26322576
Population rank 51/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.32%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
43.9 seconds
One birth every
32.5 seconds
32.6 seconds
One death every
2.57 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 14/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
11 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -48,019
Net migration rank 146/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -48,019
2024 766,304 -13,892 759,375 -46,880
2023 754,486 -4,798 746,398 -39,953
2022 734,893 -4,798 726,465 -39,951
2021 713,806 -9,888 703,674 -22,210
2020 716,361 -9,888 683,053 -14,962
2019 714,681 -12,255 667,110 -44,373
2018 706,188 -9,184 670,723 -40,710
2017 696,496 -37,912 661,973 -33,942
2016 677,051 13,255 645,652 -30,251
2015 649,190 42,008 630,006 -48,872
2014 619,243 96,599 614,419 -50,068
2013 606,072 -6,900 597,887 -40,951
2012 594,029 -7,523 588,748 -140,507
2011 580,607 -12,669 570,899 -43,160
2010 569,921 -9,366 554,447 -34,483
2009 557,841 -10,203 533,730 -34,383
2008 542,919 -10,720 514,665 -24,509
2007 526,949 -10,807 495,800 -19,945
2006 511,366 -28,528 477,665 -18,247
2005 496,547 -27,775 460,964 -17,413
2004 478,880 -19,444 439,717 -10,796
2003 459,422 -18,568 417,766 -11,768
2002 439,544 -10,766 396,732 -8,914
2001 422,511 -19,203 376,472 -12,507
2000 411,633 -21,221 359,159 -17,395
1999 401,969 -17,398 343,705 -21,702
1998 388,432 -12,446 323,940 -30,255
1997 377,138 -13,842 308,429 -55,978
1996 370,355 -12,738 293,953 -67,974
1995 367,532 -12,661 285,598 -67,763
1994 364,390 -12,028 282,356 -63,533
1993 360,785 -9,601 274,480 -68,816
1992 356,072 -13,702 267,605 -70,789
1991 350,493 -14,520 261,656 -77,172
1990 342,901 -8,163 252,308 -68,668
1989 334,649 -11,244 249,929 -75,771
1988 328,168 -16,016 245,682 -87,952
1987 320,134 -3,829 238,871 -90,940
1986 308,188 -3,671 233,799 -81,970
1985 296,317 -3,604 224,734 -63,347
1984 284,110 -3,512 218,078 -47,331
1983 276,112 -37,346 211,795 -34,132
1982 274,652 -139,974 204,892 -34,140
1981 262,076 27,845 198,227 -34,130
1980 247,808 70,589 190,560 -30,156
1979 238,875 -12,108 182,449 -32,353
1978 229,958 -1,282 172,652 -31,520
1977 222,785 -20,622 165,071 -28,853
1976 214,916 -19,994 157,778 -33,999
1975 206,986 -237 150,222 -26,572
1974 200,693 -377 142,448 -22,449
1973 193,997 -466 135,801 -19,137
1972 186,521 -473 129,687 -19,594
1971 179,317 -439 123,591 -22,127
1970 170,713 -367 118,952 -17,479
1969 162,603 -286 114,361 -18,302
1968 153,080 -204 111,403 -18,015
1967 144,370 -148 107,650 -16,900
1966 135,927 -96 103,684 -17,032
1965 129,428 -39 100,451 -13,662
1964 123,469 0 97,166 -13,226
1963 119,784 0 95,055 -11,951
1962 116,232 0 93,101 -10,821
1961 82,471 0 91,115 -10,139
1960 77,948 0 88,802 -10,314

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 7,129,456 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a loss of 47,352 people). In Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/mali | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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